Multiple attachment receptacle



March 26, 1935. H. c. LEE Er AL 1,995,855

MULTIPLE ATTACHMENT RECEPTACLE Filed July 8, 1952 4 Sheets- Sheet 1 45 2017 1616M??? 21 r r w 7 I i ll fig /4 6 Y 2 7 36 3 13 i g 19 i7 March 26, 1935. H. c. LEE El AL MULTIPLE ATTACHMENT RECEPTACLE Filed July 8, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 26, 1935. H. c. LEE n AL 1,995,355

MULTIPLE ATTACHMENT RECEPTACLE Filed July 8, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 liven/250115, e/Waczn/C. L e a lZo/v 1J8, 6

March 26, 1935. H. c. LEE n- AL 1,995,855

MULTIPLE ATTACHMENT REGEPTACLE Filed July 8, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .lll'l fl l rl. l

UNITED ST res. PATET orrics 1,995,855 MULTWLE ATTltC/HMENT BECEPTiiCLE Herman Lee and Ralph For-bush Norris, Madi son, Wis, assignors to G. F. Burgess Laboratorles, Inc, Madison, Wis, a corporation of Delaware Application July 8, 1932, Serial No. 621,432

id Claims. (or. 247-28) This invention relates to improvements in m the baseboard with a scarcely dtstimnnshable tiple attachment receptacles or outlets for supplug receptacle, flush with the surface of the plying electrical energy to current consuming apbaseboard and having, as the most noticeable pliances. More particularly the invention relates ture, a pair of slots adapted to receive the small,

to an improved structure wherein relatively long flat contacts of an attachment plug cap.

conductors are concealed in the baseboard along t is a further object of the invention to pmthe wall of a room, are connected to the lighting vide an improved multiple attach nt recap supply circuit and are connected also, at frequent tools which does not have its continuity l olten or desired intervals along their length, to attachat the corners of the room and which is inex n.-

ment plug receptacles which are exposed in the sive, comprises a minimum number of parts, is 10 baseboard and to which attachment plugs, with permanent for all practical uses and still permits flexible conductors extending therefrom, may ready access to the internal parts for repairs and readily be connected. The construction is adaptchanges and also permits the ready change of loed to provide receptacles at suiiiciently irequent cation or increase in number of receptacles.

intervals, or to readily permit the installation of It is a further object of the invention to pro- 15 additional receptacles in sufiicient number, so vide an improved multiple attachment receptacle as to provide available electric energy cutlets at of the character mentioned which does not catch substantially any desired point. within a room. dust and dirt and which prevents the entrance of Devices as heretofore proposed for this purpose water during scrubbing or mopp ng operations.

2c usually involve the employment of slots extend- The preferred embodiment of the invention ing throughout substantially the length of the may be described, briefly, as comprising an. elonbaseboard with current carrying conductors cxgated channel fitted between upper and lower posed within the slots. The slots were necessasections of a baseboard, within which channel a rily of substantial width, and were unsightly and pair of conductors is disposed longitudinally and caught dust and dirt and also water during scrubis connected at desired intervals to blocks of suitbing and mopping operations. They also afforded able insulating material or so-called shaped reopportunity for immature persons to insert wire ceptacles, suitable for the insertion of the fiat or metal objects therein, thus presenting risks contacts of an ordinary attachment plug cap. of short circuits. These devices, furthermore, The receptacles fit transversely within the chanwere complicated, expensive and difiicult to i'nnel, that is, they fill the space between the side 39 stall. In order to conceal the construction as walls thereof. Cover sections close the portions much as possible, special baseboard constructions of the channel between receptacles to form a were used and in some instances they were inclosed conduit with the surface of said receptacles stalled in connection with the moldings from exposed at intervals. Portions of the cover secwhich pictures were hung. Special attachment tions preferably overlie contiguous portions of 5 plug caps were required and such special equipthe receptacles to maintain the latter in place. ment, of course, rendered the constructions con- The exposed surfaces of the cover sections and spicuous which is a result to be avoided. Conof the receptacles are flush with each other and structio'ns involving the use of spaced receptacles also with the surface of the baseboard to present to were very few and were subject to the same oba uniform, inconspicuous and attractive appear- 40 jections. In these constructions, after the lccaance. tions of the receptacles were fixed, they could be In the drawings: changed or additional receptacles installed only Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of the with difficulty. improved multiple attachment receptacle;

as The object of the present invention to 'pro- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a moulded socket vide a multiple attachment recc member of insulating material, showing its remits the employment of ordinary b2, lation to the parallel conductors;

the insertion of the receptacle col arctic Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view tween upper and lower sections of the base along line 3-3 of Fig. l;

in an easy and ready manner. Fig. 4115 an enlarged longitudinal sectional view 5 It is another object of the invent along line 4-e-of Fig. i;

an improved multiple attaclnnez Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view which the construction is conceal. 1 along line 5-5 of 2.;

and there is presented to view wh 5 to Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional View be substantially the plain, continuous surface of along line 6-6 of 1;

rated vertically a distance equal to the socket member 15 of sheet metal of each re- Fig. is aperspective view oi one form of cover member;

Fig. 11 is a top view of special forms oi chan nel and cover members adapted for use at corners; I

Fig. 12 is a partial front view of a modified form of improved multiple attacent receptacle;

Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view along line 13-43 of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is a partial front view showing a recep= tacle having a special or modified shape.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the general arrangement of the multiple receptacle is shown. Upper and lower baseboard sections-l0 are sepathe width oi the conduit which is indicated generally by numeral 11, and which, as illustrated more in detail hereinafter, comprises an elongated chei, Le, a base and side flanges with an open top, or, when said channel is mounted, as shown in Fig. 3, with an open front side which may be closed by cover sections, equal in length to the desired distance between receptacles and adapted to snap into engagement with the channel flanges. The channel and cover sections are preferably formed from sheet metal. At desired points along the length of the conduit there are exposed receptacles 12 of insulating material, carrying terminals to which insulated conductors 13 are connected within said conduit. A portion of said conduit is shown at vided for electric energy supply conductors it which are connected to said conductors 13. The connections will be described and illustrated more in detail hereinafter.

In Fig. 2, the preferred shape and design of receptacle 12 is shown from the rear. Said member may be made of suitable insulating material such as porcelain, hard fiber or a phenol condensation product (bakelite), preferably the latter. Within the rearward portion of said member there are two parallel and oppositely disposed longitudinal grooves 16 with communicating, substantially rectangular recesses 1'? in the intervening septum and removed a short distance from said recesses, in the direction toward the opposite ends of grooves 16 are ridges or partitions 18, which partially close said grooves. At opposite ends of member are indentations l9 and along the sides of said member are ribs or flanges 20. The purposes of grooves 16, recesses 1'7, partitions 18, indentations 19 and flanges 20 will be explained hereinafter.

In Fig. 3, the conduit 11 is shown more in detail and comprises elongated channel-members 21, i. e. substantially U shaped in cross section,

and a plurality of substantially U shaped cooperating cover sections or channel members 22, although a cover long enough to span several socket members with openings therein to expose said socket members, may be employed. The side which an entrance is pro-.

the cover being pried away flanges of said channel members 21 are oil'set inwardly, as shown, and are provided with outwardly extending points or ribs 23. The side flanges oi the cover sections 22 are doubled back upon themselves to form inner ledges 24. The vertical spacing between baseboard sections 10 may. be approximately equal to the greatest width of channel member 21 or preferably slightly greater, whereby the latter may be readily inserted in said space and secured to the wall by means oi screws 25, for example. Conductors 13 and socket members 15, with contacts attached, may be inserted in channel member 21 and connected as will be described more in detail hereinafter. As shown in Fig. 3, each socket member fits snugly between the ofiset portions of the side flanges of channel member 21. Cover sections 22 may then be pushed inwardly. The lateral sides of member 21 may be offset a distance equal to twice the thickness of the material of which the cover sections 22 are made. The sides of cover sections 22 enter the space between the baseboard sections and the side walls'oi channel member 21 and, when passing over the small projections or points 23, compress the sides of member 21 toward each other slightly. This is possible because cover sections 22 are located between receptacles 12v and compress only the portions oi channel member 21 which have the projections 2s thereon. See Fig. 4. When the doubled portions of the sides of cover sections 22 pass said projections 23, the sides oi the channel member snap back into place and the exterior surfaces of the latter and of the sides of cover 22 are substantially flush with each other and cover 22 is locked in place.

Fig. 4. illustrates the manner in which the receptacle is held in place in the channel of member 21. The former fits snugly between the side walls of the channel as stated and the end portions thereof are shouldered at 26 to permit the end portions of cover sections 22 to fit over the same and loci; the receptacle in place. The insulation is removed from a short portion of conductor 13 where it passes through the rear groove in the receptacle. A sheet of insulating material 27 covers the rear of receptacle 12 and may be held in place by a spring metal clip 28, the end portions of which engage the recesses 19 in the ends or saidreceptacle. The insulating sheet 27 may be slightly longer than the rear portion of smd receptacle and the clip 23 may be looped around the end portions of sheet 2'1, so that the sheet and its clip may be handled as a unit.

As shown by Figs. 3 and s, for practical purposes cover 22 is held permanently in place upon channel member 21, andreceptacle 12 is similarly held in place by cover 22. However, if it is desired to remove a section of cover 22 in order to get at the interior of the channel, an edged tool such as a screw driver can be inserted between the end of cover 22 and receptacle 12 and. upon from channel 21, the doubled portions of its sides pass over projections 23 without great dificulty, after which the cover can readily be removed.

Figs. 5 and 6 show how flanges 20 of receptacle 12 overlie the edges of the channel flanges and fill in the space between base board sections 10, to present a substantially flush and continuous surface between cover sections 22. Figs. 5, 6 and Z, in conjunction with Fig. 4, illustrate the manner in which a circuit is established between the conductors 13 and the thin flat contacts of an ordinary attachment plug cap. The insulation is removed the conductors Ecru partitions ill to point beyond recesses 17. Substantially .a shaped spring metal strip contacts 35, (see 7) are mounted in receptacle i2 with the cross of each A contact resting against the inner most surface of recesses 17 and the leg portions of the A contacts disposed within recesses 36 which communicate by slots 3'? with the front surface of the receptacle. Conductors 13 are in contact with the lower surfaces of the crosses of the respective contacts and are held in firm contact therewith by means of screws 88 which are adapted to be screwed into threaded openings 39 of strips 35. Conductors 13 preferably are held in the angles formed by the junction of the crosses with the legs of the contacts, as shown in Fig. 6.

Recesses 40 are provided to, accommodate the stems of screws 38.

Fig. 5 shows the thin flat contacts 41 of an attachment plug cap 42 about to be inserted into slots 37 and into electrical contact with strips -35. The partitions l8 insure that the insulation upon conductors 13 does not extend into recesses 36 and impair the contact of members 39 with the strips 35 (see Fig. 2).

If desired, conductors 13, with receptacles 12 attached at predetermined intervals, corresponding with the length of cover sections 22, may be made up at the factory. However, said cover sections may be made up in different lengths and in fact, may be out by the electrician on the job and it promotes flexibility in accommodating the improvements to diiierent conditions with respect to locating the receptacles at desired points, to have the receptacles attached to the conductors on the job. The conductors may be disposed more or less loosely within the channel so that they may be pulled forwardly a suflicient dis tance to be worked upon conveniently by the electrician. The insulation may then be removed from short portions and these portions disposed in the grooves 16 of the receptacles 12 and contact strips 35 connected thereto. Rear cover sheets 27 may then be applied by means of the clips 28 and the receptacle introduced into the proper place within the channel 21. The fact that conductors 13 are loose within said channel permits the necessary longitudinal adjustment of said receptacles for positioning the same properly with respect to the ends of cover sections 22.

Fig. 8 illustrates one method of connecting con ductors 13 to a source of electric energy. Opening 45 may be provided in the rear of channel 21 at some point where supply conductors 14 are available. Into this opening connector 46, 47 may be fastened for anchoring to the channel member 21, the end of the conduit 48 through which the supply conductors 14 pass. With cover 22 removed, conductors 13 may be drawn out of channel 21 and the insulation removed from portions of their length and also from the end portions of conductors 14 and said conductors 13 and 14 connected and taped up in the usual fashion. The excess of conductors lmay be folded into channel 21 and cover 22 may be snapped into place.

in the ordinary wiring oi base plug outlets, an outlet box is usually located in the wall corresponding to the location of the base plug, and wires are connected between the outlet box and the base plug. The same method may be employed with this multiple receptacle. An outlet box may be installed in the wall and conductors 18 may be led through the opening 45 and connected at their ends to the conductors in the its ends.

outlet nyenient running sect 1 Fig. 9. telescopically flciently tight siderable stre .s aha 21, preferabl de rioticn such that conrequired to cfl'ect relative movement n An indentation 51 is punched into .e interiorsln'iace of the con-= necting member approximately centrally between The projection thus created engages the end edge of channel 21 and when the next channel is forced over member 56 the letter will be located substantially centrally between the two.

Fig. 1c illustrates a special cover member 52 for channel 21 which has advantages for particular applications. It is similar to cover 22 except that its front side 53 has extensions 54 at its ends. Extensions 54 are offset outwardly a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the material of which the covers are composed. As an example of a use for cover member 52, it may not be desirable to provide receptacles tween all cover sections 22. In such case cover member 52 may be of the same length as a receptacle may be inserted between cover sections 22, at points where receptacles are not wanted and extensions 54 will overlie the adjacent ends oi cover sections 22. Then, if at any future time, the householder wishes a receptacle at a new location the electrician can r move cover member 52 by inserting screw driver between extensions 54 and the end oi the adjacent cover section22 and prying member 52 off the channel. may then be pulled outwardly a short distance. The insulation may be removed from portions of conductors i3 and a receptacle connected thereto and inserted in channel 21 and the ends of cover sections :22 snapped back into place.

Fig, 11 illustrates a corner construction which makes it possible to maintain electrical continuity two 1' more walls a room. An external *1, or what may termed a 270 corner const *tion is illustrated but it ohvious that c. ternal corner corner or any ot employed as 2.1 6 has the 2i and. is adapted to n d with and connected to the straight charm o lons by means of connectors 50 such shown Fig. 9. Angular cover member 5'? has the same sectional shape as cover sections 22'. and is adapted to snap over channel member 55, hich, in the form shown, has its open side facing outwardly. Cover member 5'? may have offset end extensions 53 similar to extensions e-i upon cover member 52. Since cover sections usually be out to length on the they may terminate at the member on a i i ihe ediacentends of cover sections 22 ted "ay iilustra n rigs. ricer 23 is t deployed .llJz-S as fiover is where receptacles are desired, portions 62 may U-shaped in transverse section and adapted to snap over the sidesof channel member 21. The cover 61 may be'of indefinite length and be provided at convenient intervals, such as from one foot to six feet, for example, with partially severed circular portions 62 in much the same manner that knock-outs are provided in ordinary electrical outlet boxes. Numeral 63 indicates the line along which the material of cover 61 may be cut and partially severed. This may be done by means of a suitable punch operating upon the rear surface of the covers. Of course portion 62 may be of any suitable shape, and at those points he removed by a blow with a hammer. At these points the insulation may be removed from short portions of conductors i3 and receptacles 6% may be connected thereto. Each receptacle has a shoulder65, shaped to accommodate the material of cover 61 immediately adjacent an opening formed by the removal of portion 62 and this holds said receptacle in place and presents a substantially flush exposed surface. It is apparent that this latter modification is also adapted for the ready installation of additional receptacles as they are desired.

Fig. 13 also shows a different method of, attaching contact strips 66 to conductors 13. Recesses 67 are provided for the accommodation of contact strips 66 and-communicate with the exposed surface of receptacle 6% by means of slots 68. The insulation is removed from short portions of conductors l3 and one end of each contact strip 66 is bent around said conductor before said contacts are assembled in the insulating block. The connection may be made permanent by applying solder to the joint. Thisform of connection is more particularly adapted to a construction where the receptacles are attached to the conductors at the factory.

While receptacles of square and circular shapes have been described thus far, it is apparent that other shapes may be employed. Fig. 1d illus= trates an hexagonal receptacle '72 between cover sections '73 which have their ends cut at angles so that they fit over the ends of the receptacle. Inthe same manner any desired special shape of receptacle may be used with a long cover orshort cover sections.

This improved multiple attachment receptacle is not limited to use in connection with baseboards. It possesses the important advantage that channel members 21 may be quicklyand easily applied to any surface, by means of screws 25 or other fastening means, such as nails. The

. construction lends itself, therefore, to rapid or temporary installations, as for display illumination, exhibition booths, and the like. It will be understood that the terms upper, lower, forward, rear and similar terms are used in the claims to indicate the relative arrangement of certain parts and thus facilitate the description rather than being used in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In a multiple attachment receptacle, a sub-. stantially continuous elongated channel, a pair of conductors extending longitudinally within said channel and insulated from one another, shaped attachment plug sockets disposed at intervals along the length of said channel intermediate the ends thereof, and attached to said conductors, said sockets being insertable laterally into said channel, the rear and side surfaces of said sockets resting against the rear and side walls of said channel, laterally extending shoulders on said and said cover sections being substantially sockets overlying the edges of the side walls of said channel, hover sections fitting over said channel and having means coacting With the side walls thereof pressing said sockets in place.

2. In a multiple attachment receptacle; an elongated channel, the marginal portions of the sides of said chanel being off-set inwardly, shaped attachment plug sockets disposed at intervals along the length of said channel intermediate the ends thereof, said sockets being insertable laterally into said channel and fitting between the interior surfaces of said ofiset portions, cover sections having side flanges fitting over and engaging said oflset marginal portions and closing the open side of said channel between said sockets, the exposed surfaces of the sides of said channel dust: with one another and the end portions of said cover sections fitting over the end portions of said sockets and pressing said sockets in place in said channel.

3. In a multiple attachment receptacle, an elongated channel, the marginal portions of the sides of said channel being offset inwardly, longitudinally spaced outward projections on said ofiset portions, shaped attachment plug sockets disposed at intervals along thelength of said chan-' nel intermediate the ends thereof, said sockets being insertable laterally into said channel and ntting between the interior surfaces of said offset portions, cover sections substantially U -shaped in transverse section, fitting over said oifset marginal portions and closing the open side of said channel between said sockets, the margins of the sides of said cover sections being doubled back inwardly to provide ledges, said ledges engaging said projections to hold said cover sections in place and the end portions of said cover sections fitting over the end portions of said sockets and pressing said sockets against said channel to lock opening in the cross member, said conductors'being held in contact with said strips by means of screwsthreaded into said openings, said strips being adapted to provide spring contact with the contacts of'an attachment plug cap insertable through said openings in said body.

5. In a device of the tachment plug socket comprising a body of insulating material of uniformwidth to fit within a hollow molding, having flanges adapted to overlie the edges of said molding and having grooves in a surface thereof adapted for the accommodation of conductors passing therethrough and having recesses in the ends thereof, a rear closure for said grooves comprising a sheet of insulating material slightly longer than said socket and a spring. metal" clip looped about the end class described, an atportions of said sheet and having its ends engaged in said recesses.

6. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, an elongated channel having a rear wall and side walls, the forward side thereof beingopen, said side walls having substantially parallel interior surfaces, an attachment plug socket fitting between said parallel surfaces, and being slidable rearwardly into said channel, and a cover clamping over said side walls and engaging said socket and pressing said socket into said channel.

7. A multiple attachment receptacle comprising, in combination, an elongated channel having a rear wall and side walls, the forward side thereof being open, attachment plug sockets disposed at intervals along the length of said channel and fitting between said side walls, a cover fitting over said side walls and having clamping engagement therewith, said cover engaging forward surfaces of said sockets and pressing said sockets into position in said channel.

8. A device of the class described comprising, in

combination, an elongated channel having a rear wall and side walls, the forward side thereof being open, an attachment plug socket disposed within said channel and fitting between said side walls, said socket being slidable rearwardly into said channel and into seating engagement with a surface of said channel, and cover sections clamping over said side walls and pressing said socket against said seating surface.

9. A multiple attachment receptacle comprising, in combination, an elongated channel having a rear wall and side walls, the forward-side thereof being open, attachment plug sockets disposed at intervals along the length of said channel, said sockets fitting within said channel and being slidable rearwardly thereinto, and a clamping member having latching engagement with said side walls and pressing said sockets into said channel, said clamping member comprising a cover for said channel closing said open side thereof between said sockets.

10. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, an elongated channel having a rear wall and side walls, the forward side thereof being open, an attachment plug socket disposed within said charmel, said'socket being insertable rearwardly into said channel, and having side walls fitting within the side walls of said channel, and having marginal flanges overlying the walls, the forward side thereof being open, a onepiece attachment plug socket disposed within said channel and fitting between said side walls, said socket being slidable rearwardly into said channel and having marginal flanges engaging the edges of said side walls, and cover sections clamping over said side walls, end portions of said cover sections engaging end portions of said socket and pressing said flanges against said side wall edges.

12. A multiple attachment receptacle comprising, in combination, a wall, upper and lower baseboard sections attached to said wall and spaced apart vertically, an elongated channel between said baseboard sections, said channel having a rear wall and side walls, the forward side thereof being open and disposed away from said wall, attachment plug sockets disposed at intervals along the length of said channel, said sockets fitting between said side walls, and a cover fitting over said side walls and having clamping engagement therewith, said cover engaging forward surfaces.

of said sockets and pressing said sockets into position in said channel.

13. A'multiple attachment receptacle comprising, in combination, a wall, upper and lower baseboard sections attached to said wall and spacedapart vertically, an elongated channel between said baseboard sections, said channel having a rear wall and side walls, the forward side thereof being open and disposed away from said wall, attachment plug sockets disposed at' intervals along the length of said channel, said sockets fitting between said side walls and being slidable rearwardly into said channel, cover sections having side flanges fitting over said channel side walls and having latching engagement therewith, the end portions of said cover sections fitting over the end portions of said sockets and pressing said sockets into position in said channel.

14. A multiple attachment receptacle comprising an elongated channel having a base and parallel side walls, attachment plug sockets having parallel side walls and of a width to frictionally engage said channel side walls whereby said sockets may be inserted in said channel at intervals longitudinally in contact with the base and side walls thereof, and a cover'having fianges fitting over said channel side walls to hold it in place, said cover confiningsaid sockets in said channel and maintaining their longitudinal spacing.

HERMAN C. LEE. RALPH FORBUSH NORRIS. 

